Western cyclone., 1887-09-30
A FRTENDLY WARNING

sertion most emphatically, turning
from the dainty bit Of KensingtOn en-
broidery in her hands to glance into
Kittie Alleyne's face.
Kittie seated at the piano near,
her white fingers straying over the
ivory keys, evoking faint sweet sounds
glanced up with a start. The small
hands came down upon the keys with
a crash which put to instant death
the low sweet melody, and hastily
oppressed exclamation follOwed--t
all was still.
She stopped to pick up her hand
kerchief. then the brown eyes sought
Mrs. Gordon's blonde insipid face, and
a very different voice observed lightly:
swell! Why not, Leila? Surely,
there is nothing in the statutes of the
country to prohibit Mr.. Darlington
from following the example of so
many Of his brethren! Pray. who may
be the happy lady Of his choice?"
Leila Gordon gave her friend an
other searching glance.
II declare! She doesn't care one
Bit" the young matron was saying to
herself. "She is perfectly heartless!
I've always told Charlie that Kit AL
leyne was cold as an iceberg, and that
she never cared for Val! Yet, they
have been such good friends for
year"
But aloud. she made answer:
The lady On, som nbody from the
South, believe. A Miss Lola Percy,
l am told. Atleast Well, Kit, this
is the whole story and you may accept
it for what it Is worth.
my husband saw Val Darlington
at TinselIe's jewelry store last night.
Val was looking at some rings, and
as Charlie entered he overheard him
observe to Mr.. Tilselle himself, who
was waiting upon him:
Then you think this Lroad band
suitable for a wedding ring? 1t is
really very handsome. l believe, if it
is the proper size, that | will decide
upon this one. A man is naturally
very fastidious about the. selection of
his wedding ring"
"And then, you see Charlie waitel,
for he wished to speak with Mr.. Tin
seIle about my diamonds, which are
being reset, so he overheard Mr.. Tin
Selle remark in a low, confidential
tone to Val Darlington:
$50, there will be wedding in
your family at last, Val: am right
glad to hear it, and wish you all hap
piness. Miss Lola Percy is charm
ing young lady, and | shall take pleas
ure in welcoming her here as Mrs.
Darlington. Shall l engrave the in
itials inside the ring,?'
And Val. nodded.
'"Yes," said he, Just put "V. D. to
J.. p, Nov. Doth, 1886" That is the
date appointed for the wedding And,
if you please, Mr.. TinSelIe, say nothing
about it TO any one. OF course, you
understand that for the present it is
to be a secret
Charlie had slipped behind large
upright showcase near, and they did
not notice him. Val Darlington hur-
ried from the store, and they We're
none the wiser. But, Of course, Char
lie told me as soon as he reached
home he never concealS anything
from me and made up my mind
that, secret or no secret you ought to
be told, Kittie."
The brown eyes were lifted from
their close scrutiny Of the piano keys,
and cold, clear voice demanded brief
""whyg"
Mrs. Gordon blushed coafuSedly.
=. Iupll ha hac haoD 90
quite devoted, in fact, to you. i
thought you ought to know that he
had only been amusing himself at
your expense, and decided to give
you friendly warning for"
"I.elia Gordon, stop! How dare
you insult me so !"
kittle was upon her feet now; 4
slim, pale girl, with soft, dark eyes
and bronze brown hair.
"Mr. Darlington is nothing to me"
she went on freezingly, But | think
that both you and Mr.. Gordon have
treated me shamefuly by listen
Ing 10 his secret, and the other bv re-
peating it to any one. Good morning.
Leila. No, | cannot stay longer /;
thanks. l have to go down town to
attend to some business. All! there
is my hat"
And amid many protestations from
Mrs, Gordon as TO her own and her
husbands innocence of intent, Kittie
LETT the pretty home of the Gordons
and hurried down the street, half wild
to get away.
she had not gone far when she came
race TO face with Val Darlington, a
Tall, dark, handsome man with a dis.
linRuished air.